I've never checked the velocity of Federal .470 ammo, but have heard it is only 2040 fps even though they advertise 2150 fps or so. Has anyone actually shot the stuff through a chrony and if so, what did you get... and in what lenght barrell/type of rifle?

If I remember correctly, when I had the Heym (24") barrels, it was over 2100 fps. Maybe 2125? Pretty close was my impression then.

But it depends of course on the rifle, blah, blah.

We also choronographed Federal factory ammo loaded with a 500 Woodleigh SP in a custom Ruger #1 with a 26 inch barrel. Velocity was 2164.

24" barrel Federal ammo gave 2085 fps.

This information is from the reloading pages on this site.

JudgeG,
This is an Oehler 35P check of my Merkel .470 NE (600 mm or 23.6" barrels) with Federal factory loads:

Woodleigh Weldcore RNSP 500 grains average for 10 shots at 47 degrees F = 2057 fps

Trophy Bonded Sledge Hammer solid 500 grains average for 3 shots at 47 degrees F = 2084 fps

Federal loads are not hot loads. Little on the safe side, and I found that my rifle shot best with hand loads at 2080 to 2120 fps, or right about 2100 fps.

As you see, I did not want to waste the TBSH's as they are what my rifle was regulated for.

Add about 20 fps per inch with longer barrels.
Add about 1 fps per degree F with higher temperatures.

If Federal shot their ammo in 28" barrels at 70 degrees F, then I would say their 2150 fps claimed with the soft points is spot on.

I also say that the solid load is not adjusted by powder charge. They just stick the same powder charge in with the RNSP or TBSH, and it is RL-15.

There is no filler, just the hotter F216 primer.

It helps to "uniform the loads" by pointing the muzzle skyward to settle powder against the primer then lower it gently in firing position.

Overall, they are passable loads but not as uniform as good handloads with case filling slow powder or RL-15 and filler.

JudgeG

I have chronographed two Federal factory loads.
1. Woodleigh 500 gr. solids averaged 2224, 4 shots.
2. Trophy Bonded Sledghammers, 500 gr. 2163 avg. 4 shots.
Thw Woodleigh's grouped better and at point of aim at 50 yards.

All shot from my Chapuis.

I chronographed some Federal 470's that I have and was surprised at how consistently they registered. Less than 15 fps variance. Considering the amount of empty space in the cartridge, that 216 primer does a hell of a job.

Anybody wanna go raid the Federal plant for some of those 216 primers? I've got a marketing director that could turn their heads long enough for us to get some . In reality, though....there must be something REAL special about those things (or maybe liability??) for them not to be available AT ALL. Oh well....the filler it is.

Gary B.

I suspect they fear some dildo would try them in his 243 with a listed max load...of that I have no doubt.

So, extrapolating to 92 dgrees F and 26" barrels, the Federal factory loads would be exactly:

Woodleigh RNSP >>> 2150 fps
TBSH Solid >>> 2177 fps

That is good enough for a factory load to shoot in the rifles of the masses, eh?

Now, anyone that hasn't specified barrel lengths, make of gun, and temperatures (estimated if not recorded in your records): GET DOWN AND GIVE ME SIXTY PUSHUPS! Then correct the error of your ways.

I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

IRP! (immediate response please)

O.K. Judge,
You can bank on my data. Believe you me.

Thank you for your imformation, folks!

Welcome.

I have shot half a dozen bufflao with my handloads of 85 grs. of RL-15 with 5 grs. of dacron that chronograph at 2020 FPS 10 shot average...They kill as well as my 108 grs. of IMR-4831 for 2245 FPS and I get to keep my fillings.

quote:

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Originally posted by Atkinson:
I have shot half a dozen bufflao with my handloads of 85 grs. of RL-15 with 5 grs. of dacron that chronograph at 2020 FPS 10 shot average...They kill as well as my 108 grs. of IMR-4831 for 2245 FPS and I get to keep my fillings.

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Ray, that sounds like good info.
The slow powders generate lower peak pressures further down the barrel, but surely all the modern doubles will have no problems anywhere with those loads as long as they group well.

PS: You may take charge of this thread now. Keep them doggies rollin.